This photography mularky is turning into a full blown obsession and I don't feel well

[candidrachel]

Seriously! It's occupying my thoughts all day and all night long and its affecting my sleep pattern. I keep waking up between 1am and 3am stressed out! I think I need to take a step back and chill out or take a trip to the doctors for sleeping pills, the highest dose .

Every day I'm reading and reading or practicing and practicing and not retaining anything I'm reading. I've always shot from the hip photography wise and have never even thought about what shutter speed I'm using or what apature I've set or whatever, now I'm seriously going crazy! I don't get metering modes and arrrgghhh my poor hubby is getting so sidelined. He said the other night "There's a great tv programme on about bull sharks if your interested" (we both like shark programmes) but I said sorry I'm in the middle of a chapter in my book.

Oh man, I've ALWAYS been a perfectionist but this is ridiculous!

[windrider86]

lol, I've been doing this for years and I will still tell people at shows that I'm still not sure if it's a passion or an obsession

[junglebear]

Haha don't worry it'll pass soon and you'll calm down and start to function like a normal human being again. I got slightly obsessed for a while too, but it didn't last forever! How long have you been taking photos?

[candidrachel]

I've been taking "snapshots" for over 30 years and when I look back at my "photographs" I cringe you know like having the horizon slap bang in the middle of the picture (wrong!) or no foreground interest, or other little mistakes/habits that I have been doing over and over again and nobody told me not to do.

All I want to do is get my snapshots to look more like photographs.

Sounds like you could use a thorazine drip cranked to the highest flow.

Seriously though, go outside.... books and reading the googles are fine, but it's not where good ideas/photos come from

~Eric

[carl yeomans]

Originally Posted by candidrachel

I've been taking "snapshots" for over 30 years and when I look back at my "photographs" I cringe you know like having the horizon slap bang in the middle of the picture (wrong!) or no foreground interest, or other little mistakes/habits that I have been doing over and over again and nobody told me not to do.

All I want to do is get my snapshots to look more like photographs.

photography is a journey, not to be rushed. Learn to use your machine first, understand what every button and dial does and how it affects the exposure. Before long you will be in total control of the picture your taking. When that becomes second nature to you the rest will start to fall in place, but remember its a long journey ahead and you will always be learning.

[Raoul Isidro]

Whatever happens, don't get the "Lens Lust" fever... it's a vicious virus acquired from the smell of freshly printed Photography magazines...

[douglas]

Doesn't bother me most of the time...BUT sometimes when I have taken a bunch of pictures for some special occasion, or on a special trip, i agonize about what I should have done. Bad personality "they" would say!!!

[ffscj3562130]

Originally Posted by Raoul Isidro

Whatever happens, don't get the "Lens Lust" fever... it's a vicious virus acquired from the smell of freshly printed Photography magazines...

I wouldn't mind having "lens lust" ( actually, I have a severe case) but I can't afford the treatment.

[sk66]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

Seriously though, go outside.... books and reading the googles are fine, but it's not where good ideas/photos come from

~Eric

+1.
Keep in mind, all of the "knowledge" in the world won't make a great image...experience and feel plays in here hugely. Knowledge will make a technically excellent picture, but not a great picture, and there is a difference...relax, give it time....